Concrete-construction apparatus



W. C. POLK.

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGI I, I9I9.

1,438,784. Patented 1390.111921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GMO/mega i vided with a fitting 22 or 23 (see rigs. 4 and 5) which is vertically grooved at its outer endsto receive the adjacent inwardly pr jecting parts of two vertical angle bars 24 attached to and stili'ening the abutting edges of two inner form segments 25. These torni segments are otsheet metal, stili'ened at all tour edges by angle bars 24. lhey are ot such length circumterentially that they span the space between `the outer ends of adjacent radius bars20, and meet at such radius bars; and they are preferably slightly curved `so as to conform to the general curvature of Ithe circle of the inner vsurface ot the proposed silo. rlhey may be rnade to contorni exactly for one diameter ot silo, but they will come sullioiently close to contormity for the other diameters so that. the difference is, not noticeable. The number ot segments 25 tor any sizes ot' silo will correspondtothe number of radius bars 2O andto the number otpairs ot holes 16 and 17in the pair'ot series of holes 16 and 17 being. used for that size ofsilo. The angle bars "24 at the' vertical meeting edges oic the plates 25, as stated, project into grooves in the vertical outer edges ot the littings 22 or 23, and are held there by cross pins 26,

which may be ordinary nails, which extend through mating holes 27 insuch angle bars 24 and fittings 22 or 23. 'The grooves in the ttings`22 are. merely sulliciently wideto yreceive the two inwardly projecting parts of the vertical angle bars 24. VThe grooves inthe `fittings 23, however, are wider, `and in addition to receiving the inwardly projecting yparts of the vertical angle bars 24 they also receive a pairl oic oppositely facing wedges 28 located between such' inwardly projecting flanges and serving toV spread them apart, to permit loosening of the series of inner forms when taking them down; the wedges 28 at one edge are'iiush with the concrete-abutting `surfaces et the inner forms25. i

In 4addition to the inner surface of the `silo wall, there are outer forms made up of segments 30, which are preferably ot the same height as the segments 25. These outer form segments 30 are provided at their tour edges with` stit- Vlening angle bars 31, which in their outwardly projection parts have? holes 32 which inate with similar holes in the angle bars at the meeting edges ot adjacent segments 30'- above, below, yor on either sideso that through these mating holes pins 83 be projected. here are similar mating holes 32' in the inwardly amending flanges ot the angle bars 24. A biiiurcated hooked clamp 34 receives in the opening between its two prongs the projecting flanges of the meeting 'angle bars 31 or 24, and the ends ofthe prongs oic such 'clamp are provided with hooks which extend around the pin" 33, `as is the inner forms 25,v forV i ,ziesyee clear from Fig. 6; so that by hooking the clamp 34 on the pin 38 `and then turning` the clamp thepin 33 is held in place and the two meeting angle bars are held together. This interlock takes place at both horizontal and vertical meeting edges of the outer form segments 30, and also at the horizontal meeting edges and at the lower parts of the Vertical `meeting edges of the inner torni segments 25. may be spaced apart by spacers 35, (see Fig. 9,) conveniently formed of sheet metal with the' corners out out and the `lateral edges bent downward to project between such inner and outer form seoinents, the ends ot such spacers resting on the upper edges of such forni segments; these are only used at the upper edges of the series ot forms, and may be removed as. the concrete approaches such upper edges, conveniently being provided with holes 36 throughwhich vertical reinforcing` rods may pass.

A cross-beam 40, conveniently a T-iron inverted, is pivotally mounted at its center on the mast l2, aiidis connected by upright bars 41 to an upper bearing 42 joined by guy wires 43 to the cross beam 40.' A trolle \Y 44 travels on the upper edge of the stem of the T-iron forming the beam 40, and the depending bail 45 from this trolley is provided with a hook 46 which may carry a dump-bucket 47. The two ends of the crossbeam 40 are provided with pulleys 48, over which and. over a pulley 49 attached to a post 50 in the ground extends a cab-le 51 which i attached to the bail of the bucket 47 so th at by manipulating the cable 51 such bucket 4'( may be. raised to the hoolr 46 or lou ed tothe ground to be filled. vlThe cable 51 where it extends between the two pulleys 48 at the` endsy ot the cross-beam passes to the side of themast 12, and 1tends to how the cross-beam sidewise; and to resist this, while still permitting a slight bowing so that the cable will not rub the mast, the cross beam` is provided with a tension brace 52 extending around the mast 12 on the lopposite/'side from the cable v51 and at,- tached 'to two points onjthe cross-beam 40 on opposite' sides of such mast to resistYsuc-h bowing tendency.` This tension brace'has a turn buckle 52v by which the bowing of the cross-beam may be controlled. o d V ln the use of 'my apparatus, the mast 12 is yfirst 'set up with a jsuilicient number of plates 14' thereon'. Radius bars 20 ot Sulliient number areattached to the lowermost plate 14, which rests on a cross pin'in a hole 15 in the inast'12, and the outer ends of such radius `bars are then attached to the lowermost series ot inner form segments 25,

rlhe inner Aand outer formsy segments being suitably fastened together by the pins 33 and clamps 34. When an opening 1l is desired, a suitable form to give such opening the proper shape is placed between the inner' and outer form segments. r1`hen the space between the inner andouter form segments is illed ywith concrete, which for the lower form segments may be put in place byV hand but which is lifted by the bucket 47 and cable 5l as the silo increases in height and carried by the trolley 44 and hook 46 inward along the cross beam 40 to the proper place so that by dumping the bucket 47 the concrete is caught in a hopper chute idischarging into the space between the inner and 'outer forms. `Whenthe space between any lower series of inner and outer forms has been filled, and suitably tamped,

the nent higher series of segments maybe put in place inthis same way, and attached to the adjacent lower form segments by pins 33` and clamps 34. When the space between this second set of forms is filled, the rst set of forms, both inside and outside, may be re moved, the wedges 28-being first removed to permit the removal of the inner forms, and their radius bars disconnected from the associated plate 14 and such plate allowed to drop to the bottom of the mast; and then these removed forms may be set on top of the forms which previously were on top of them, the radius bars QObeing associated with the lowermost of the waiting group of plates 14. j This may be continued until the silo has reached the desired height, each set ot form segmentsbeing removed when the set above it has been illed and then being placed above the set which `was previously above it, but with a diii'erent attachingplate The forms ot either set, for only'two sets are necessary, though more can be used, may be removed from below a higher set without disturbing the latter `and then placed above such formerly higher set, still without disturbing it. It thus becomes possible to build a silo of any desired height in a simple' and rapid manner, with a minimum expenditure for forms; and the same forms may be usedfor silos of several diiierent sizes, both inner and outer sets of forms con? forming sutlicientlyv closely in curvature to` the true circles-corresponding to such silos sok that the diiterence is not noticeable for the usual variations in diameter ol silos.

1 claim as .my invention: ,i

1.1n an apparatus for constructing cir members associated with the outer ends ot said radius bars, and two annular series of outer form members spaced from said inner i form members, the number of said mast plates being greater than the' number of sets of radius bars and greater than the num-l ber of series ot inner or outer form members.y se that as thebuilding progresses lower series ot inner and outer form members and the radius bars of the lower series oit inner form members may be removed trom below',`

the higher series and put in place above such formerly higher series in connection withy a i higher plate on the mast.

2. In an apparatus .for constructing cir-l cular concrete buildingsthe combination ot a central mast, a plurality of plates carried by saidmast, 4two sets ot radius bars which may be connected with said plates, 'two annular seriesV of inner form members associated with the outer ends ot said radius bars, and two` annular seriesot' outer :torni members spaced from said inner form mem-- bers, `so that as the ybuilding progresses lower Series of inner and outer form members and the radius bars of the lower series of inner form members may be removed from below the higher series and put in placek above such formerly higher series in connection with a higher plate on the mast, said inner form members having inwardly proj ecting tlanges at their vertical edges and the outer ends oi said radius bars having grooves each receiving two such inwardly projecting iianges oftwo inner tormfmembers meeting at` the outer end of such radius bars.

3. in anapparatus for constructing circular concrete iuildingsthe combination of a central mast, a plurality of plates carried by said mast, two sets of radius bars which `with a higher plate on the mast, said inner form members having inwardly projecting` lianges at their-vertical edges and the outer ends of said radius bars having grooves each receiving two such inwardly projecting .flanges of two inner forni members moet ing at the outer end ot' such radius bars, and cross pins 'tor connecting said inwardly pro jecting tlanges'and said radius bars. `4. In an apparatus ior constructing circularconcrete lniildings,` the combination oi? a centralmast, radius bars haring their inner ends supported from said mast, and an annular .series or inner form members, `said inner form members having inwardly pro jecting flanges at their meeting edges and the outer ends of said radius barsliaving grooves each receiving two meeting inwardlyV projecting flanges oi"- adjacent inner forni members.

5. ln an apparatus for constructing circular concrete buildings, the combination ofi a central inast, a plurality of plates mounted on said mast, each of said plates having a plurality of' annular `series of attaching holes with different numbers of holes in said series, radius bars which lmay be attached` to said plates at any of. said annular series of holes according to the number and length of the radius bars,and inner form members associable with the outer ends or" saidradius bars. V y V i i 6. ln an apparatusffor constructing oircular concrete buildings, the combination of a central mast, a plurality of plates mounted on said mast veach )late havin@ ltwo series of annular holes, radius bars each provided at its inner end with an upwardly curved finger for extending through a hole of one set and with a projection which engages with a corresponding hole of the other set' when the radius bar is brought to horizontal position, and inner form members associatedwith the outerends of said radius bars.

7. In an apparatus for constructing cir.- cular concrete buildings, the combination of' a central inast, radius bars having their inner ends supported from said mast, an annular series of inner form members, said inner form members having inwardly projecting flanges at their meeting edges and the outer ends of said radius bars having grooves each receiving two meeting inwardly projecting flanges ol' adjacent inner form members, the groove in the outer end of one of said radius bars eing wider'than two such inwardly projecting flanges, and wedges arranged to be removably placed into said wider groove to spread the adjacent inner form members.

8. ln an apparatus for constructing cir-` cular concrete buildings, the combinationrof aV central mast, radius bars having their in? ner ends supported from said mast, an an` nular series of `inner form members, said' inner form members having inwardly pro'- jecting flanges at their meeting edges andA inner form members, said form. members-- being provided at their meetingedges with flanges i which proj ect away from vthe` forni members of the other set andare provided.-v

with transverse holes, pins projecti'ble through such holes of' meeting flanges, and

hooked bifurcated clamping members arranged .,to be placed astride said meetingr pins.y y l 10. Inan a aratus for-iconstruotinmcirf PP. r,

flanges andrtohook aroundbthe ends-of said' cular .concrete buildings, the co'nibinationoff-1l a centralfmast, .plurality of series `Ofiline-1*- forin membersl eachl provided at all four edges with inwardly projecting flanges,

radius barsgrooved-at their outer endstol receive meeting Vfianges ori-i adjacent form members of a series, said'radius bars 'being4 detachably associated' with said mast, andmeans for clamping the meeting Lflanges of forinmembers of one series to the meetingY flanges of` the adjacent members-ofthe lother series, so that eitherseries may bereinoved without disturbing the other.

all. ln an apparatus for constructing-eircular concrete buildings, the combination of a central mast, plurality of platesearried' by said mast, Vtwo sets-of radius bars which may be connected with'said plates,"two annular series of inner form members associated with the outer ends of said'radius` bars, two annular series of outer formV memV bers spaced from saidlinnerforni members, so that as the building progresses f lower series-o inner andouter for-m members and the radius barsof the lower) seriesovinner form members maybe removed from below the higher series andiput in place above such formerly higher seriesin connection with ahigher plate on members having at their vertical edges andthe outer ends of' said radius bars having grooveseach receiving two such inwardly projecting-flanges oftwo inner form members meeting at the outer end of' such radius bars, and wedges associated with the meeting `edges of two adjacent inner form members forv spreading them apart.

12'. In an apparatus for constructing cir-= cular concrete buildings, the combination of" a central mast, radius bars havingl their inner ends supported from said' mast, an

`annular ser-ies of inner form members, said inner forni membersv having inwardly projecting flanges at their meeting edges and the outer ends of said radius barshaving grooveseach receiving two meeting inwardly projecting` flanges of adjacent inner form members, and Vwedges associated with the meeting edgesv of two adjacent/f inner formmembersfor spreading'l them apart.

13. In `an apparatus for constructing concrete buildings, the combination with a central mast, of'` a cross beam mounted'at its thema-st, said inner form inwardly projecting flanges,

center on said mest and extending therefrom in e right line. direction from end to end of in two directions, pulleys :it the ends of said the beam and. clear said mest.

cross beams, e lifting cable passing ovei` said In Witness whereof7 I have hereunto set l0 pulleys to lift building material, said cable my hand at ndenapolis, Indiana, this fifth extending the length of seid beam and passclay of June, A. D. one thousand nine hunng seid mast, said cross beam being bowed Cllfl and nineteen.

at its center to permit said cable to extend WALTER C. FOLK. 

